Sheet feeding mechanism



Feb; 9, 1932. A. NOVICK SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed April 28, 92 8 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 9, 1932. r A NQVICK 1,844,102

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed April 28 192 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 w m- &

Feb. 9, 1932. A. NOVICK SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed April 28, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 9, 1932. A N CK 11,844,102

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed April 28, 192 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Afiiys A. NOVICK Feb. 9, 1932.

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed April 28 192 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Wen/0r Feb. 9, 1932.- A. NOVICK SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed April 28, 192 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 /m/e/7f0r Feb. 9, 1932.

A. NOVICK SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed April 28 192 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Feb. 9, 1932. v A. NOVICK 1,344,102

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed April 28, 1926 a Sheets-Sheet 8 //7 van/0r kw Afij/s Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ABRAHAM NOYICK, OF FLUSHING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO I. L. SMITHE MACHINE 00., INC, OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION OF NEW,YORK

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Application filed April 28, 1926, Serial No. 105,046. Renewed November 9, 1929.

This invention relates to sheet feeding means which may be used to convey fiat articles, such as sheets or envelope blanks, from a pack, individually to suitable means where they are substantially operated upon.

There is herein provided a circuitous feeding or conveying means including two units, each comprising a conveyor band or chain running always in the same direction and having a plurality of engagin elements or pins thereon to advance the lanks. The chains run always in the same direction, and two pins, one of each chain, engage an envelope blank to feed or convey it from the pack. After blank has been conveyed from the pack, the pins or fingers follow then circuitous path and subsequently return to engage another blank. In the meantime several other blanks have been transferred from the pack, by other fingers on the chains, in a similar manner.

A feature of the invention relates to means whereby thespeed of each sheet engaging element, as it is brought into action, is considerably reduced with respect to the speed of the conve or hands, so as to prevent 'injury to the b anks or sheets when engaged by the sheet engaging elements.

Another feature of the invention relates to the adjustability of the conveyor bands to compensate for various sizes of envelope blanks. 1

Another feature of the invention relates to novel means for partiall separating each sheet or blank individuaily from the pack before it is carried bodily to the feeding means. To this end a separator in the form of a sucker is provided which engages each blank near the lower edge. After a vacuum has been produced in the sucker it is tilted to bend the blank at its lower edge, the stiffness of the next succeeding blank being sufficient to keep it from bending, thus partially separating the outer blank from the next succeeding one. After the blank is bent the sucker is swung bodily to carry said blank away from the pack to the feeding or conveying means.

Other features of the invention relate to mechanism for 'tllting the sucker and to mechanism for swinging it bodily away from the pack after tilting.

Provision is made to automatically feed the pack of blanks toward the transfer means.

A further feature of the invention relates to means including a feeder which engages the pack to control the automatic feed of the pack, and also serves, when a blank is being conveyed, as a holder to prevent the next succeedin blank from being conveyed accidentally with the one in transit.

Still another feature of the invention relates to means for adjustin the feeler with reference to the zone in which the separator functions.

Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the machine taken on the line 1-1 of Fi re 3.

Figure 2 is a sectional top plan view of the machine taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional front view taken on the line. 33 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a rear view showin that portion of the feeding means incFuding the chains and pins which engage the envelope blanks, as seen at the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail side view of one of the feeding elements showing its adjustment on the chain which carries it.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3 and shows the parts in position after a separated blank has been released from the sucker and about to be conveyed fromthe pack.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic side view showing the control of the feeding means for automatically advancing the pack of envelope" blanks toward the blank conveyors and the sucker.

Figure Sis a diagrammatic side view of the parts shown in Figure 6, and shows the sep arator brought against the pack to pick up a blank and the feelr which controls the feed of the pack in its lowerposition.

Figure 9 shows the position of the feeding elements and their fingers with relation to .the envelope blank when the parts occupy the position in Figure 8. Y

Figure 10 is a View similar to Figure 8, but shows the separator tilted to bend the top blank at its lower edge to start the separation of the blank from the pack.

Figure 11 shows the position of the feeding elements when the parts reach the position in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 10 but shows the separator withdrawn to lift a blank from the pack to enable the fingers of the feeding elements to move behind the blank.

Figure 13 shows the finger moving in behind the envelope blank after it has been separated from the pack as in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view illustrating the adjustable connecting link con- 7 nected to the feeler and by which said feeler may be adjusted to work within the zone in which the separator functions.

Figure 15 is a front view showing the brackets supporting the sprocket wheels associated with one of the conveyor chains.

Figure 16 is a detail top plan view showing one of the conveyor sprocket wheels and its supporting arm.

Figure 17 shows the parts as seen from the right-hand end in Figure 15; the view is partly in section to clearly show the structure.

Figure 18 is a detail sectional view of the sheet separator.

The machine includes a frame 19, Figure 1, comprising a base-plate 20, Figure 1, from which rise side-plates 21 supported by posts 22 and 23 secured to the base plate in any suitable manner. The side-plates 21 are rigidly secured to each other by circular tiebars 24, 25 and 26, and a flat tie-bar 27.

A pack 30 of flat articles or sheets such as envelope blanks 31 is supported on inclined ways or waybars 32 suitably supported on the a frame 19 as hereinafter described. To further support the pack of blanks there is provided a carriage or elevator 33 including a cross-bar 34 having bearing blocks 35, one at each end, to embrace guide-bars 36 upon which the carriage slides, the bars 36 being secured to posts 37, on the end plates 21, by screws or bolts 38.

The carriage is automatically fed by mechanism hereinafter described, to keep the face of the pack 30 of blanks within the reach of, or in other words, within the zone of movement of a separator 39, Figures 2 and 6, and the zone of travel of a feed controlling feeler or sheet holder 40. The separator, which is of the sucker type, is operated, in a manner hereinafter described, to separate the outer blank 31 from the pack 30 and carry to suitable transfer, conveying or feeding means 41 by which it is transferred to feed rolls 42, in a manner hereinafter described. The feed rolls formpart of a system, not shown, by which the blanks are fed to suitable means for gumming the seal flaps 43, Figure 3, of the envelope blanks,

A main drive-shaft 44, by which the separator 39, feeler 40 and transfer means 41 are operated, is supported in the end plates 21, Figures 1 and 3, and is driven by a chain 45 engaging a sprocket wheel 46 secured to said drive-shaft, said chain being connected to a suitable source of power.

The separator or sucker 39 is connected to a vacuum pump, not shown, by means of a tube 47, Figures 6 and 18, and is adjustably supported on a bracket 48 to which bracket it is secured by a screw 49. The bracket 48 is secured to a frame or bail 50 by a screw 51, said bail having arms 52 at its sides from which extend trunnions 53 '(see Figure 3 also) to form pivotal bearings engaging in upwardly extending arms 55 of levers 56, which levers are fulcrumed on beaded studs 57 secured to the end-plates 21. The separator has a reciprocating motion and is caused to move towards the pack to pick up a blank and is then caused to return to carry the blank away from the. pack to the conveyor means 41.

To control themovement of the separator 39 towards the pack 30 from the position in Figure 6, there are provided two cams 60 secured to the drive shaft 44, Figures 3 and 6, said cams co-operating with rollers or followers 61 carried by bell-crank levers 62. Springs 63 are connected to the bell-cranks 62 to swing them in a counter-clockwise direction, about pivot studs 64 on the endplates 21 as the rollers 61 approach the low parts of their co-operating cams. The bellcranks 62 are connected at their upper ends by means of links 65 to downwardly extending arms 66, of the bail carrying levers 56, to swing said levers in a clockwise direction and thus carry the separator 39 to the pack 30. As soon as the separator reaches the pack a vacuum is produced therein, by the pump not shown, which pump may be connected to operate at the proper time, to take hold of the outer blank of the pack, as indicated in Figure 8. When the separator 39 is in contact with the pack the follower 61 stands away from the cam 60, (see Figure 8) thus enabling said separator to be drawn tightly against the pack to prevent leakage of air into the separator or sucker. The shaft 44 is driven in a counter-clockwise direction and upon a further rotation thereof from the position in Figure 8 the cams 6O operate the bell cranks 62 in a clockwise direction, against the tension of springs 63, to move the separator 39 away from the pack to carry the outer one of the blanks 31 to the conveyor or feeding mechanism 41.

Before-the separator moves away from the pack, and after the vacuum is produced therein, it is given a tilting movement about the trunnions or pivots 53,-Figure 10, to start the separation of the outer blank from the pack from the edge. It is for this purpose that the separator is pivoted, through the medium of the bail 50, on the levers 56. The

separator engages each blank close to its one is bent away from it as inFigure 10.

After the separation of the top blank from the pack has thus been started, the sucker is moved bodily to the position in Figure 12 from the position in Figure 10. It will be understood that a sheet of paper or envelope blank will separate more readily from a pack v if started by bending near one edge than it will by attem ting to move the whole sheet bodily away em the pack in the first instance. To confine the initial separation of each sheet to the lower edge of the pack, the

separator is located at the bottom edge of,

the pack, and the axes of the trunnions or pivots about which the sucker swings are in aligmnent with the upper corner of its sheet engaging end of said separator (see- Figures 6, 8 and 10), and lies in a plane including the front face of the pack of sheets when the separator bears against said pack as in Figure 8. It will be understood that if the'pivots 53 of the separator were some dis-- tance above it, that the separation of the blanks would not be so eflective since thebending of the blanks would not be so short, and the stiffness of the next succeeding blank is not so effective to resist a long bend as it is to resist a short bend Consequently the next adjacent blank or blanks would be more likely to bend with the outer one due to the tendency of the paper blanks to adhere to each other. This possibility is, however, ordinarily overcome by the short bending of the blanks as above described.

Occasionally the fibres of the paper sometimes adhere to each other'at the edges of the blanks due to the action of the blanking tool. This may at times give a tendency for a second sheet to stick to the first sheet and bend therewith. To assist in separating the blanks, therefore, there may be provided a pair of spring fingers 67 Figure 10, having each an upwardly bent edge 68 over which the envelope blanks are dragged while the sucker is being rocked to the position in Figure 10, the fingers 67 being efi'ective duringthis time to engagethe lower edges of the blanks and prevent passage of all of the blanks except the one held by the sucker.

The tilting of the sucker is brought about,

at the proper time, by two cams 70 on the shaft 44, Figures 3 and 6, engaging with followers or rollers 71 carried on arm 72 of-bellcranks 73. The bell-cranks 73 are supported on pivot studs 74 extending from the end plates 21, about which. studs the bell cranks are rocked by the cam 70 in a clockwise direc- I tion from the position in Figure 8 to the position in Figure 10. Arms 75 of the bell-- cranks 73 have connected thereto, by means of bolts 76, links 77 which are moved upbell-cranks 72 towards the cams 70- to rock the separator 39 back to the position in Figure 12, as the cams 70 return to normal, Figure 8. To acquire the proper extent of tilting of the separator 39 the bolts 76 and 7 8 which connect the links 77 to the arms 75 and the bail arms 52 are adjustable in slots 80 and 81 of the arms 52 and 75, respectively.

It will also be noticed in Figure 12 that the separator 39 has been moved away from the pack to further separate the upper blank therefrom. This is brought about by springs 63, Figures 1, .6 and 12, connected to the bellcrank levers 62 of the suckeroperating mechanism hereinbefore described. Thus each picked-up blank is carried from the pack to the conveyor or transfer mechanism 41 presently to be described, whereby it is carried to the feed rollers 42.

To keep the separator carrying bail 50, Figures 3 and 6, moving parallel to itself, and thus insureproper contact of the sucker against the pack, and also prevent binding of the trunnions in their bearings, the bail swinging connections including the bellcranks. 62, and the bail tilting connections including the bell-cranks 73 are duplicated, there being one connection at each side of the bail.

The conveyor or transfer mechanism 41 includes two conveyor bands or chains 83, Figure 4, each running over three triangularly disposed sprocket-wheels 84, and 86, each chain having thereon a set of sheet engaging elements or pins 87 mounted on brackets 88 secured to the band, said pins being brought, at the proper time, into engagement with the lower edge of the separated blank or sheet to lift it to the feed rolls 42. The bands 83 are located towards the sides of the envelope blanks and extend vertically in Figure 4 be tween the sprocket wheels 85 and 86 at one side, and sprocket wheels 85 and 86 at the other side. Each hand extends around its associated sprocket wheels 86, and then diagonally downward to the sprocket wheel 84, then around the latter and horizontally to the sprocket-wheel 85, thus-forming a substantially triangular path. Each blank 31 is engaged by the pins 87 when in its lowermost position, Figure 4, and immediately prior to engagement the speed of the active pins 87 gaged gently by said pins and thus prevent injury to the edge of the blank by them.

To facilitate the gentle engagement of the blank by the pins 83, the latter are supported on arms 88a extending inwardly on' the chains, so that the pins are close to the axes of the sprocket wheels 85 while being carried around said sprocket-wheels by said bands. Thus it will be understood that the closer the pins 88 lie to the axes of the wheels 85, the slower is the upward movement of the pins. When the pins reach the horizontal plane of theaxes of the sprocket-wheels 85, they are in contact with the blank and again start to travel at the speed of the chain to convey the blank. WVhen the pins 87 pass around the axes of the upper sprocket-wheels 86, the blank has entered between the feed rolls 42 by which it and the preceding ones are fed at a slower speed than that of the chains 83 so as to arrange them in overlapping rela tionship with their lower edges exposed, as in Figure 4, for gumniing. The blanks may be guided to the feed rolls 42 by stationary guide-bars 89 which maybe supported in any suitable manner on the machine frame.

After each blank has been separated from the pack and brought to the position in Figure 12, it is released from the separator by the automatic admission of air into the separator by means not shown. The pack of blanks is disposed at an inclination to keep the blanks from falling away from each other. Consequently the separated blank,

' when released from the sucker, has a tendency to drop back to the pack. This is prevented, however, by flat guard fingers 90, Figures 4 and 12, extending from the pins 87 outwardly past the chain. Said fingers as they pass around the sprocket Wheels 85 advance through the positions in Figures 9, 11, 13 and 5 behind the blank to retain the latter.

, To prevent skewing of the conveyor pins 87and also keep the guard fingers 90 parallel to the plane in which they travel, so as to insure proper functioning of the conveyor mechanism 41, each chain 83 has co-operating therewith an auxiliary chain 91, Figures 2 and 4, passing over sprocket-wheels 84a, 85a and 86a, said sprocket wheels being connected to the sprocket wheels 84, 85 and 86 by hubs 92, 93 and 94, respectively, Figures 16 and 17. The pin-carrying brackets 88 span the chains 83 and 91, Figure 5, and are secured thereto by screws 95 passing through slots 96 and are threaded into U-shaped links 97 of the chains 83 and 91, respectively. It will be understood that the slots 96 enable fingers 90 to be properly adjusted with respect to the pack of blanks and with respect to each other. I 4

The conveying means 41 comprises two units 100, Figure 2, each including a carriage 101. The carriages 101 are slidingly supported, for a purpose hereinafter de scribed, on a bar 102 adjustably mounted on the side plates 21. Each carriage 101 includes a plate 103, Figures 4, 15 and 17, at one side of the bar 102, secured to a bracket 104 by screws 105 and 106, said bracket embracing the bar 102. The sprocket-wheel units 86, 86a, and 85, 850; are supported on studs 107 and 108, respectively, secured to the plates 103 of the carriage 101. The sprocket wheel units 84, 84a are secured to a shaft 109, Figure 16, supported in a hub 110 of an arm 111, said arm being supported in a slot 112, Figure 17 formed in the carriage 104, and is secured thereto by a screw 113 which screw passes through an elongated slot 114 in the arm 111. Said slot 114 facilitates a lengthwise adjustment of the arm 110 to enable the chains 83 and 91 to be placed over their associated sprocket wheels in assembling, and also take up undesirable slack in said chains.

The conveyor units 101 are driven from the main shaft 44 by a sprocket wheel 115 secured thereto, Figures 1 and 3. A chain 116 connects the sprocket wheel 115 with a sprocket-wheel 117 secured to a shaft 118 to rotate the latter in a counter-clockwise direction. The shaft 118 is supported in brackets 119 secured to the tie bar 102, Figure 2, and has connected to rotate therewith bevel gears 120 and 121, said gears driving bevel gears 122 secured to the shafts 109 to rotate said shafts in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4 and thus drive the bands or chains 83 to convey the envelope blanks, as previously described, to the feed rolls 42.

As previously stated,the blanks may have a tendency to stick together along their edges and consequently one or more blanks may be conveyed to the feed rolls 42 accidentally, with the outer blanln To prevent this the feeler 40 acts also as a holder. Said holder is in its lower lower position, Figure 12, while the outer blank 31 is carried by the separator from the pack to the conveyor pins 87. After the blank reaches the position in Figure 12 the holder 40 is moved bodily upward to the dotted line position and is then swung about'its fulcrum or pivot 123 against the pack to the position in Figure 6 where it is held by spring pressure against the pack in a manner hereinafter described. After the holder bears against the pack 30 the outer sheet is conveyed and thus any possibility of accidentally conveying a sheet accidentally is overcome.

The upward movement of the holder is brought about by a spring 127, Figures 3 and 8, connected to an arm or pin 128 extending from the hub 129 of a lever 130 to rock said lever in a clockwise direction, Figure 8. One

12. The downward movement of the holder is effected by a cam 132 secured to the drive shaft 44, which cam co-operates with a follower or roller 133 on the other arm 134 of the lever 130 to swing the latter in a counterclockwise direction against the tension of the spring 127 to lower the holder 40. The lever 130, Figure 3, is loosely supported on a shaft 135. to rock independently thereof; said shaft being supported in brackets 136 and 137 and the end plate 21. The lever 130 is held in pace on the shaft 135, at one end bya collar The movement of the holder 40 towards the pack of blanks is also effected by a spring 142 connected to an arm or pin 143, Figures 3 and 8, extending downwardly from the hub 144 of an arm 145 secured to the shaft 135 to rock the latter in a clockwise direction, Figure 8. Another arm 146 is secured to the shaft 135 which arm extends downwardly and tion against the pack 30, Figure 6. The holder is moved away from the pack by a cam 148 secured to the shaft 44, which cam engages a roller or follower 149 on the arm 145 to rock the shaft 135 in a counter clockwise direction to pull on the link 147 and swing the holder 40 about its pivot 123 in a counter clockwise direction, Figure 8, away from the pack 30.

It should be understood that to insure contact of the sucker 39 and the feeler 40 with the pack, the rollers stand free of their cams 60, Figure 8, and the roller 149stands free of the cam 148, Figure 6.

The mechanism to automatically feed the carriage or elevator 33 to keep the surface of the pack of blanks within the zone of movement of the separator 39 includes an arm 152, Figures 3, 6 and 7, secured to the rock-shaft 135, the arm 146 of which is connected to the feeler 40 by link 147. The arm 152 has pivotally connected thereto at 154 a feed pawl 153.

The feed pawl 153 is normally held against aratchet-wheel 155 by a spring 156. Said pawl moves in a non-feeding direction over the ratchet-wheel 155 when the holder 40 moves towards the pack, and when the holder moves away from the pack the pawl 157 feeds the ratchet=wheel 155 in a clockwise direction,

Figure 6. The ratchet wheel 155 is not actuated at each reciprocation of the pawl 153,

I- but periodically as hereinafter described. It

; riage 33 through the medium of connecting mechanism, not to be described, between the ratchet wheel 155 and said carriage 33. It will be understood that until a definlte number of blanks have been removed from the pack, the pawl 153 moves idly back and forth over the ratchet wheel without efiectmg any movement thereof.

The mechanism connecting the ratchet wheel 155 with the carriage 33 includes a. sprocket-wheel 157 which may be secured to the ratchet wheel in any suitable manner to form a unit to rotate freely on a stub-shaft 158 secured to theside plate 21, said unit being held on said stub-shaft by a collar 158a. A chain 159 connects the sprocket-wheel 157 with a large sprocket wheel 160, Figure 1, se-

cured to a shaft 161 to rotate the latter in a clockwise direction. Secured to the shaft 161 are two smaller sprocket wheels 162, one at each side of the machine. Each sprocket 162 drives a chain 163 which is guided over a sprocket-wheel 164 rotating on a stud 165; the

studs 165 being supported by the side plates 21; Each chain includes a long link 166, Figure2, into which links extend studs or pins 167 from the carriage 33, Figures 2 and 3, to connect the carriage with the chains so that it may be moved thereby. By the provision of two chains 163, one at each side of the carriage 33, a parallel feed of said carriage is maintained.

The holding pawl 150 may be taken out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 155 so that the pack carria e 33 may be moved back to provide space or a fi'esh pack of blanks. To this end there is pivotally mouned on' the side-plate 21 a cam 168, Figure '6, engaging the lower side of the pawl 150. Said cam is provided with a handle 168a by which it may be rotated to lift the pawl150 out of engagementwith the ratchetwheel 155. Y

The-separator 39 is'adjustably' supported on its bracket, as indicated in Figure 18, for the purpose of setting it relatively to the pack. To this end the screw 49 passes through an elongated slot 169 in the bracket 48. To prevent accidental turning of separator. on the bracket 48 and thus insure proper contact of the free end of the sucker with the blanks 31, the bracket 48'is provided with a groove 170 into whichthe lower end of the separator stem 171 fits said stem being. flat on its sides; The separator when adjusted moves back and forth in a definite zone, and it is within this zone that the feeler 40 should function to control the feed of the pack 30.

The feeler 40 is adjustable to function within the aforementioned zone. To this end there is provided the adjustable link 147 includin a left-hand screw 172, Figures 6 and 14, an a ri ht hand screw 173, said screws being threa ed into a thumb nut 174 by the rotation of which nut the link 147 may be lengthened or shortened to adjust the throw of the free end of the feeler 40 to fall within the zone of movement of the separator. It will be understood that this adjustment may be made while the machine is in operation. To maintain the adjustment of the link 147 and prevent disturbing thereof which may otherwise be caused by the vibration of the machine, there is provided a friction device comprisin a disc 175 threaded on the screw 173 and through which extends a pin 176 from the nut 174 to cause the disc to turn with the nut. A spring 177 is supported on the pin 176 and is disposed between the nut 174 and disc 175 to cause the disc to bind on the screw sufiiciently to prevent accidental displacement of the nut 174 and yet enable said nut to be manipulated, by the operator, for adjustment.

Provision is made to accommodate envelopes of various sizes, Figure 3. end the ways 32 upon which the envelopes rest are adjustable towards and away from each other, according to the width of the envelope blanks, and up and down so that the seal flap 43 of the envelope blanks of the various sizes may always bear the same relation to the separator 39, it being desirable to have said separator engage the blanks about the same distance from the edge in all cases.

To separate the ways 32 or bring them closer together there is provided a rod 182, Figures 1 and 2, having a right hand screw 183 and a left hand screw 184 threaded into blocks 185 and 186, respectively, formed on the ways 32. The rod 182 passes through a lug 187 secured to a cross-bar 188 supported on the side-plates 21, and said rod 182 is held in position, endwise, by collars 189 and 190. Figure 2, at the sides of said lug. The ways 32 are supported on the cross-bar 188 and a cross-bar 191 which is also supported on the side-plates 21. Said ways are held on the cross bar 188 by straps 192 secured to the blocks 185 b screws 193, Figure 2. The rod 182 is provi ed with a handle 194 by which it may be rotated in either direction to thus separate the ways 32 or bring them together according to the adjustment required, said ways being i always located in the corners 148 formed by the seal flap 43 and the side flaps 179 of the blanks.

To raise or lower the ways 32 the bars 188 and 191 are provided near their ends, with racks 198 and 199 secured respectively to said bars. Shafts 200 and 201 are supported in To this" the end plates 21 and are provided with pinions 202 and 203 meshing with the racks 198 and 199, respectively, so that by rotating the shafts 200 and 201 in a clockwise direction,

Figure 1, the ways 32 may be raised, and by rotating them in the o posite direction the Ways may be lowere Screws 197 pass through elongated dots in the bar 188 and are threaded into the end-plates 21 to secure the bar 188 to the frame 19 after adjustment. The bar 191 is provided with similar screws for securing it after adjustment of the ways 32. The shaft 200 is provided with a square head 204, at one end, to which may be applied a wrench for rotating said shaft. The shafts 200 and 201 are rotated in unison so as to move the ways parallel to themselves. To this end there is secured to the shaft 200 a sprocket-wheel 205 to drive a chain 206, which chain co-operates with another sprocket-wheel 207 secured to the shaft 201 to rotate the latter.

The conveyor units 100 are also adjustable according to the various sizes of envelopes. To adjust them laterally there is provided a rod 210, Figure 2, having a right hand screw 211 threaded'into the bracket 104 of the left-hand carriage 101. The rod 210 has also a left hand screw 212 which is threaded into the bracket 104 of the right-hand carriage 101. By turning the rod 210 by a handle 213 thereon the carriages may be adjusted towards or away from each other on the bar 102, so that the conveyor pins 87 will engage in the corners 178 of the blanks. The rod 210 is held in place, endwise, by bracket 214, secured to the bar 102, and two collars 215 engaging on each side of said bracket. To secure the. carriageslOl in their adjusted positions set screws 216 are threaded into the brackets 104 and bear against the bar 102.

The bevel gears 120 and 121 are retained in mesh with the gears 122 while the transfer units 100 are being adjusted sidewise. To this end there are provided brackets 217 ,secured to flat faces 218 of hubs on the adjustable arms 111, Fi ures 2, 15 and 16. The brackets 218 have bi urcated free ends, Figure 1, to straddle the shaft 118 so that they may engage behind the gears 120 and 121 and thus slide said gears on said shaft 118 while the conveyor units 100 are being adjusted. Driving connection between the gears 120 and 121 is maintained by keys or pins 219 in said gears, which extend into a slot 220 extending along the shaft 118.

The conveyor units 100 are also adjustable up and down so that the pins 83 may, for all sizes of envelope blanks, engage the blanks as the pins are brought to the same plane in which axes of the studs 108 lie. To this end a shaft 223, Figures 1 and 2, is provided, which may be rotated by a handle 224. Said shaft has two pinions 225, one at each end thereof. The pinions mesh with racks 226 secured to the bar 102 to raise or lower the latter, said bar supporting the conveyor units 10, thus being carried up and down thereby to the desired position. After adjustment of the conveyor units the bar 102 may be secured in place on the frame 19 by screws 228, Figure 2, passing through ver-' slack is provided in the chain 116. This slack is taken up to keep the chain in engagement with the sprocket wheels 115 and 117, by an" idle-r 229 which may be adjustably supported on the side plate 21 in any convenient manner.

The following is a summary of operations. At the beginning of a cycle of operations the separator 39 is moved against the pack fromthe position in Figure 6 to the position in Figure 8. The vacuum is then produced in the sucker to take hold or pick the outer sheet.

At this time the conveyor pin 87 and the fingers 90 are in the position, Figure 9, clear of the lower edge of the blank 31.

The next step in the operation of the machine is to separate the outer blank from the pack. This is effected by rotating the shaft 44 from the position A in Figure 8 to the position B in Figure 10 by tilting the separator to the position in Figure 10 where the lower edge .of the blank has been bent and dragged over the auxiliary separator to start the separation of sheet from the bottom of the pack. When the parts are in this position, the fingers 90 have advanced to the position in Figure 11 where they are approaching the seal flap 43 and the pins are approaching the corners 178.

After bending the lower edge of the blank to start its separation from the pack, the shaft 44 rotates tothe position C in Figure 12, to move the separator bodily away from' the pack, Figure 12, to further separate the blank and carry it to the conveyor mechanism 41. After the blank reaches this position the shaft 40 rotates to position D, Figure 6, to move the fingers 90 behind the seal flap 43 of the blank 31, as indicated in Figure 13. The

holder 40 is also moved up over and against the pack. The blank is then released from the separator 39 by automatically destroying the vacuum therein. The blank then drops back towards the pack but is retained on the pins 87 by the fingers 90 as indicated in Figures 4 and 6.

After the parts reach the positions in Figures 4 and 6, the blank is lifted or conveyed to the feed rolls 42 where the blanks are fed in overlappingrelationship, Figure 4, with their lower edges-exposed for the purpose of gummmg.

What I claim is: a

.1. In a sheet feeding mechanism the combination of means to separate the outer sheet from a pack, two driven conveyor bands for transferring the separated sheet from the pack, rotatable guiding means around which said bands run, and sheet engaging elements on said bands, saidv elements being so disposed on said bands that their speed is reduced almost to zero as they pass around said guiding means so that said elements may be brought in contact with the sheet at a con siderably reduced rate of speed to prevent injury to said sheet by said elements.

2. In a sheet feeding mechanism the com bination of means to separate the outer sheet from a pack, two driven bands to convey the separated sheet from the pack, said bands be- 7 ing disposed in a plane parallel to the sheets and at one end of the pack, means including wheels, one for each band, over which said bands run, inwardly extending arms on each band, said arms being also disposed in a plane parallel to the sheets, sheet engaging pins, one on the'inner end of each arm so that said pins are brought close to the axis of the guide wheel in passing around the latter to decrease their speed, said pins engaging the edge of the separated sheet while their speed is reduced.

3. In a sheet feeding mechanism the combination of means to separate a sheet from a pack, two conveyor bands arranged to have two oppositely disposed sides run in parallelism, means including two wheels to guide each band, the axes of said wheels being disposed at right angles to the path in which the sheet is to travel, sheet engaging elements on said bands, said elements being offset on said bands so that they pass close to the axes of the guide wheels while passing around them to reduce the speed of said engaging elements with respect to the band to prevent shock of said elements to the sheet to be engaged there- 4. Ina sheet feeding mechanism the combination of means to separate the sheets. individually from a pack, bands to convey each sheet after separation from the pack, elements on said bands to engage the sheet,and

means whereby thespeed of each elementisbands.

6. In a sheet feeding mechanism the combination of two conveyor bands disposed in a plane parallel to the face of a pack of sheets, sheet engaging elements on said bands and extending towards the pack, means to afford an adjustment of said bands towards and away from each other, driving means for said bands, said driving means being effective for all adjustments of said bands, a separator to engage a blank near one ed e thereof, means to guide said pack, said gui ing means being adjustable so that the sep arator may engage the blanks irrespective of their size always the same distance from one edge, and means to adjust the bands at right angles to their first-mentioned adjustment to enable the blank engaging elements to come in contact with the blank.

7. In a sheet feeding mechanism the combination of a sucker to separate sheets individually from a pack, a support to which said sucker is secured, arms upon which the support is pivotally mounted, means to actuate said arms to mo? e said sucker against the pack, one of the corners of the sucker being in alignment with the axes of the pivots about which the sucker support may swing so that said axes are brought into the plane of the face of the pack when the sucker is carried against said pack, and means to swing said sucker support when said axes are in the plane in which the face of the pack lies to bend the outer sheet near its edge to start its separation from the pack.

8. In a sheet feeding mechanism the combination of a separator for separating an outer sheet from a pack, means to convey the separated sheet from the pack, a holder, means to move said holder between the sep arated sheet and the pack and against said pack before the separated sheet is conveyed to keep the succeeding sheet from being accidentally conveyed with the separated sheet, and means controlled by said holder for automat cally advancing the pack at intervals towards the conveying means.

9. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a sheet separator, means to operate said separator towards and away from the pack of sheets, said separator having a limited movement in a direction towards the pack, and operating in a definite zone, a feeler to engage the pack after the separation of each sheet therefrom, means to actuate said separator, the movements of said separator and said feeler increasing in a direction towards the pack as the sheets are removed, means controlled by said feeler to advance the pack periodically to bring the surface of the pack within the range of move- 'ment of said separator and adjustable means to vary the zone of travel of the feeler so that it may function within the zone of travel of the separator.

10. In a paper feeding mechanism the combination of ways to support a pack of envelope blanks ofthe open side type such that said ways support the blanks edgewise thereof and along the corners of the blanks between the side and end flaps thereof, a separator to engage the blanks individually to separate them from the pack, means including two conveying units to receive the blanks from the separator, means to adjust said ways relatively to the separator to accommodate various sizes of envelope blanks, and so that the separator may engage the blanks irrespective of their size near the edge, and means to adjust the conveying units to correspond with the'adjustment of the ways.

11. In a sheet feeding mechanism in which the sheets are fed from the pack in a direction substantially parallel to their length, means for lifting one edge of a sheet from the pack, conveying means to engage the lifted edge of the sheet, said means being constructed and arranged whereby its speed is temporarily slowed down as it approaches the sheet to prevent injury thereto and is increased after engagement with the sheet vto cause the sheet to clear the field of action of the lifting means quickly, and guard means carried thereby extending beneath the lifted sheet and preventing it from dropping back to the pack.

12. In a sheet feeding mechanism the combination of means to separate the outer sheet from a pack, two driven conveyor bands for transferring the separated sheet from the pack, guiding means around which said bands run, said elements being so disposed on said bands that their speed is reduced almost to zero as they pass around said guiding means so that said elements may be brought in contact with the sheet at a considerably reduced rate of speed to prevent injury to said sheet by said elements.

13. In a machine for separating and conveying blanks from a stack, in combination, a blank separator, slow speed feeding means, and blank feeding means for moving a separated blank from a position of rest and delivering it to the slow speed feeding means, comprising feeding members and mechanism for operating said members to engage the blank initially at slow speed, then to accelerate the blank, then to decelerate the blank as it approaches the slow speed feeding means, and finally to leave engagement with the blank when the blank has come under the control of the slow speed feeding means.

14. In a machine for separating blanks from a stack and for arranging and conveying them in fanned-out relation, in combination, a separator, a feeder comprising members having blank feeding movements to advance a separated blank from rest a distance less than that required to carry the blank clear of the stack, means for advancing the members at slow speed at the beginning and the conclusion of their blank feeding movements and at relatively high speed throughout the intermediate portions of such movements, and slow speed conveying means arranged to take control of and continue the movement of the blank in the concluding slow speed movement of said members.

15. In a machine for separating blanks from a stack and arranging and feeding them A in fanned-out relation, in combination, means for separating a blank from a stack without substantially moving it longitudinally, means for then advancing the blank slowly, accelerating it to a relatively high speed for a distance less than a blank length, and decelerating it, and means for continuing the advance of the blank at slow speed, the mechanism being so timed that the separation of a subsequent blank is effected and its feeding movement initiated before the first blank has cleared the stack.

16. The method of separating blanks from a stack and arranging and feeding them in fanned-out relation, which comprises first separating a blank from a stack without substantially moving it longitudinally, then advancing the blank slowly, accelerating the blank to a relatively high speed for a distance of less than a blank length, decelerating the blank and continuing the advance of the blank at slow speed, and then separating the next blank from the stack and initiating the feeding thereof before the first blank has cleared the stack.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature to this specification.

ABRAHAM NOVICK. 

